The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-10-02

tta
with the Continental captain. But to his
astonishment, and, | may add, TO myown,
she showed nothing Of that disposition she
had exhibited "A few moments before. On
the contrary, she blushed slightly, and
said nothing.
And then the conversation changed
upon the weather, the hard winter, the
prospects Of the cause. a criticism upon
the commander-in chiefs management Of
affairs, the attitude Of congress, etc, be-
tween Mr.. Blossom and the count; char
acterized. / hardly need say, by that pos
itiveness Of opinion that distinguishes the
unprofessional. In another part Of the
room. il so CHANGED that Mistress Thank
ful and the baron were talking about
themselves: the assembly balls; who was
the prettiest woman In M~orristown, and
whether Gen. WashingtCn's attentions 10
Mistress Pyne were only p~erfunctory gal
lantrv. or what: and if Lady W~ashington's
hair was really gray; and if that young
aide de-camp, Maj. Van Zandt, were really
in love with Lady W, or whether his at
tentions were only the zeal Of "a subaltern
in the midst Of which a sudden gust Of
wild shook the house; and Mr.. Blossom,
going to the front door, anne back with
the announcement that it was showing
heavily.
And indeed. within that past hour, to
their astOnished eyes the whole face of ma
ture had changed. The mo0 was gone,
the sky hidden in a binding, whirling
swarm Of singing flakes. The wind, bit
ter and strong, had already fashioned
white feathery drifts upon the threshold,
over the painted benches on the porch,
and against the door posts.
Mistress Thankful and the baron had
walked to the rear door-the baron with
a slight tropical shudder-to view this
meteorological change. As Mistress
Thankful looked over the snowy land
scape. il seemed 20 her that al record Of
her past experience had been ettaced; her
very footprints of an hour before were lost
the gray wall ON which She leaned was
white and spotless now; even the familiar
farm she'd looked dim and strange and
ghostly. Had she been there had h seen
the captain was it all "a fancy she
scarcely knew
a sudden gust Of wind closed the door
behind them with a crash. and sent Mis-
tress Thankful. with a slight feminine
scream. forward into the outer darkness.
But the baron caught her by the waist and
saved her from heaven knows what mag
Unable disaster. and the scene ended In a
half hysterical laugh. But the wind then
sci mon them both with q m%aleyolent
fury. and the baron was, | presume,
Obliged 10 draw her closer 10 his side.
They were alone, save for the presence
Of those mischieyous confederates, nature
and opportunity. In the half obscurity of
the storm she could not help turning her
mischieyous eyes on his. But She was
perhaps surprised 20 find them luminous.
soft. and. as IL seemed % her az that mo-
ment. grave beyond the occasion. An
embarrassment utterly new and singular
seized upon her. and when, as she half
feared vet half expected. he bent down
and pressed his lips 60 hers, she was for q
powerless. But in the next i'm
slant She boxed his ears sharply and van
ished Ia the darkness. When MI Blossom
opened che door 20 the baron he was sur
prised 20 ind that gentleman alone. and
still more surprised, when they %re-entered
tbe house. 10 see Mistress Thankful enter
at the same moment demurely from the
front door.
When Mr.. Blossom Knocked at his
daughters door the next morning IL
opened upon her completely dressed, but
withsl somewhat pale, and, if the truth
be told, a little surly.
"And you were stirring so early, Thank
he said. "'twould have been but
decent to have hidden godspeed to the
guests, especially the baron, who seemed
concerned at your absence
Miss Thankful blushed slightly, but an
swered with savage celebrity, And since
when is IL necessary that | should dance
attendance upon every foreign jack in the
box that may lie at the house,
He has shown great courtesy 70 you,
mistress. and is a gentleman.
Courtesy, indeed said Mistress
Thankful.
He has not presumed said Mr.. Bios
suddenly, bringing his cold gray eyes
10 bear upon his daughters.
"No, no" said Thankful hu%rriedly,
flaming a bright scarlet; 'but-nothing.
what nave You there? a letter.
''Ay-from the captain, ! warrant
said Mr.. Blossom, handing her a three
cornered bit Of paper; ''twas left here by
n camp follower. Thankful, +" he CON
timed, with a meaning glance, you will
heed my counsel IN season. The captain
not meet for such as you"
Thankful suddenly grew pale and con-
temptuous again Us she snatched the letter
from his hand. When his retiring foot
steps were lost on the stairs she regained
her color. and opened the letter. II was
sloyenly written, grieyously m~isspelled, |
and read as follows:
SWEETHEART: 4 ~tyranous Act, be-
gotten in Envy and ~Jealousie, keeps me